Polar Alignment with SharpCap Pro

Let's learn how to polar align with SharpCap Pro. It is more accurate than the Polemaster.
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[@poggerschampion2765]

Love the little panda on the mount

[@AmyAstro]

Me too. 🌟😃

[@awesim]

Best video I've seen! It was an eye opener for me. I was thinking of getting pole master but my pocket didn't allow it. SharpCap works light a charm! Thank you!

[@AmyAstro]

sim awesome!!! So glad it works for you!

[@chrismartin8381]

Thank you for really explaining the Polar Alignment process with Sharpcap Pro. You made it so much easier to understand..

[@AmyAstro]

Glad it was helpful!

[@GarnettLeary]

Jeff Lucas turned me on to Sharpcap for polar alignment. I absolutely love it. This was a good demonstration of it.

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you very much!

[@jefflucas_life]

@@AmyAstro smiling, you helped saved everyone $300!

[@csmith2183]

anyone in southern hemisphere dont forget to switch from northern to southern for alignment.. took me a few mins to work this out.. as it wasnt working at first.. as soon as I switched..it worked perfectly..

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you for letting us know! Cheers

[@utubemtk11]

Very pleasant voice. I love our narration of the process. Helpful and enjoyable.

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you kindly!

[@Codyyyyyyyyyy]

Wow that looked incredibly fast and simple. I've always done drift alignment which gets me pretty accurate results, but takes foreeeeever.

[@AmyAstro]

It is even faster if you set your tripod better than I did. I could not find my compass so winged it. I wish I had a clear view to do a drift alignment. Then I could get more targets and not worry about seeing polaris. Thanks for the comment.

[@umangjeet]

Great video, informative and step by step. No useless sounds and bragging other astro imagers do.

[@AmyAstro]

Glad you enjoyed it! Your comment means a lot to me.

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

Holy fucking shit was this guide good. As someone new to EQ mounts I've watched tens of videos and meaning no disrespect to any of them but the vast majority of the videos are just poorly made. Either unclear talking or they're speaking a second language English (Not their fault, just makes it harder). Using astro based words that don't mean anything to a newbie and not explaining what they're saying. Lots of rambling. Etc, etc. You cut the bollocks and got right to it while being clear and explaining what it is you were doing and why. I like that format. It's a shame so many small and big astro channels don't do that. I hope you continue that trend because I believe you'll rope in new users and build a good foundation with it and climb up the ranks. Really appreciate the guide Amy and I'll definitely be sure to check out your other videos. Now heres hoping I can do it. Especially with a massive bloody house in the way and a smallish garden.

[@AmyAstro]

MїĈhÃЭĹ ĴoЯđÃй Wow huge compliment! Thank you. I try to make videos I wish were out there when I started. I never understood why people made this harder than it needed to be. Welcome to my channel! Please let me know if there is anything you need clarified. I don’t know everything, but I can share what I learned. Clear skies.

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

@@AmyAstro "I never understood why people made this harder than it needed to be." This is exactly the same thing I found myself saying more and more. Way too many people over complicate something that doesn't need to be. When I was trying to learn how I pick a guidescope and all the information that I needed to know people were making it so much harder for me which in turn increased frustration and made learning harder, longer and just makes you feel like quitting. With that being said there is one thing. I'm relatively new to EQ, I had a dob platform before that. Recently my skies have been cloudy to the north but not the south. I was wondering if it is possible to do planetary without being able to see Polaris. Back on the platform you had to star align but I don't think that will work on an EQ but I'm also not sure at the same time.

[@AmyAstro]

I just made my first attempt last night with planetary. That is a whole new ball game. With planets you take video, not individual photos. When I figure it out better I will share what I learned.

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

@@AmyAstro Good luck. I've been spending the last hour trying to figure out how I get the guide camera to focus after trying to slide it in and out and fiddle with settings for an hour frustratedly so I packed it up for the night, haha.

[@AmyAstro]

@@Kyle_Hubbard The trick with getting focus on any scope it to aim at a very bright star or Jupiter right now. I remove the camera from the scope, look inside the tube until I get that bright start in the center. Turn on PHD2 Guiding software, connect that camera, and let it take 2-3 sec images. While it is taking the images, adjust the focus. Start with it all the way in and slowly move it out. You should see a giant fuzzy ball right from the beginning. Other option is during the day, aim for something in the distance like a light pole. I tend to do rough focus during the day, and when I start at night I'm already seeing stars to finish the focus. Last time out I aimed at a power cable down the street. Best of luck. This is probably the most stressful part in the beginning.

[@astronomynotebook]

Amy this was the best explained Sharpcap polar alignment tutorial that I have seen online....thank you.

[@AmyAstro]

Wow, thank you!

[@csmith2183]

Thanks, have heard of sharpcap but never knew just how it worked.. will give it a try.

[@AmyAstro]

Enjoy!

[@jimmyhayden8351]

Thank you for this video. I have a Skywatcher AZ-GTI on an equatorial wedge. Not having a polar scope makes polar alignment 99% guess work. I have a guide camera and scope to use with SCP now so I’m optimistic for more accurate and methodical alignment. I appreciate your easy to follow tutorial!!

[@AmyAstro]

Glad it helped

[@roseschmedding5705]

Very nice, clearly explained

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you so much! Glad it helped.

[@chrisoriordan6975]

Just found your channel and it’s fantastic - thanks for the clear and simple explanations ! 😁

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you for this wonderful compliment. Welcome!

[@michaelatkinson3397]

Yep my polemaster been sitting on the shelf since using sharpcap pro...amazing

[@AmyAstro]

I fear this may be the fait of mine also.

[@newforestobservatory9322]

Superb tutorial - thank you!!

[@AmyAstro]

You're very welcome!

[@AmyAstro]

Danny Crosgrey, Thank you for your comment. If you are plate solving you do not need to do a 3 star alignment. When you plate solve things get easier. Best of Luck

[@billneedham5785]

lot's of help there Amy. Thanks . Astroill

[@AmyAstro]

You are very welcome!

[@generalldestructionsatanic8973]

I ended up getting sharpcap pro. Had eq mount bout 3 weeks and in the Southern Hemisphere it can be tricky to spot ya stars. Before sharpcap i dont think i achieved polar alignment. After using it the Octans stars were right there in view, its awesome

[@AmyAstro]

This is awesome! It is great to know it works in the southern hemisphere so well. Clear Skies!

[@AstroPixUK]

Great video. Thank you from the UK. I’m going to attempt this with my 50mm Guidescope and ZWO120mm-c

[@AmyAstro]

Good luck!

[@gollondblack6247]

Hi Amy, I use the Polemaster and then use Shapcap using the Polemaster cam. I get great results this way. Keep up the great work. Thanks.

[@AmyAstro]

Thanks for the tip!

[@AstroDenny]

Sharpcap Pro is great for live-stacking at STEM and outreach events, planetary and lunar capture (with ASCOM cameras- Beta DSLR ASCOM driver available) and definitely as an alignment tool! Thanks for another great video!

[@AmyAstro]

Thanks for the info!

[@ranjitgovindaraj]

Really nice tutorial Amy👍🏼 I use PHD Drift Align on my pier mounted Sirius mount since I don’t have clear view of the north. But I use Sharpcap for my portable mount and it works great. Another feature of Sharpcap which is nice is the Sensor Analysis feature. It gives a analysis of your camera which is nice. I use the same ASI 183 MC Pro as you. Clear skies 🌌

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you! I'm looking forward to learning more about SharpCap.

[@douweodh4146]

Thumbs up for the vid! I use SharpCap, too. It's free software and it works well, albeit that you have to tweak the settings a bit before the plate solving works. When I'm drift aligning afterwards, it always shows SharpCap has brought me within 2 or 3 arc min from the NCP, which is good enough for good guiding. I always PA by eye first through my polar scope, to get close to the NCP, so that I only have to tweak a little bit in SharpCap.

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you!

[@the_astro_garden]

By far the best tutorial, really well done.

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you!

[@MacEliot]

Really appreciate your tutorial and going through it slowly for us. I just picked up SCP tonight. Can't wait to try this out. Thanks, Amy.

[@AmyAstro]

Have fun!

[@davidaylsworth8964]

I really have to try this routine. Looks a lot easier than the All Star Polar Alignment with my Celestron CGEM-DX.

[@davidaylsworth8964]

The quick follow-up. I actually did use the Sharpcap PA and got my mount closer to dead on than I have ever gotten from ASPA. I’ll be trying this again in a couple of months.

[@RaysAstrophotography]

I use Sharpcap for Polar Alignment and compared with Pole Master. I settled with Sharrpcap!

[@rickpaul9858]

Ray's Astrophotography I was wondering which was better. I like sharpcap. Seems easier to use and no cost!

[@AmyAstro]

I cut my teeth on the polemaster and only recently attempted sharpcap. I'm happier with the sharpcap results.

[@AmyAstro]

SharpCap hands down.

[@rickpaul9858]

Amy Astro I agree. Thanks for making for both comparison videos. I don’t know why anyone would pay for polemaster when SharpCap is cheaper and better! You should also cover the SharpCap camera Calibration feature.

[@rickpaul9858]

Sell your polemaster on eBay!

[@dragonfly3402]

Really helpful! Thanks very much. 👍

[@AmyAstro]

Glad it was helpful!

[@carlbellitti4672]

Nice Video Amy! I am now using Sharpcap to polar align. Since I mostly do EAA, I don't autoguide and I love it because it works with my main scope.

[@AmyAstro]

That is awesome!

[@simonsinkafai]

Amy thank you for such a great demonstration! After watching the first video I immediately subscribed your channel !

[@AmyAstro]

Simon Sin thank you so very much!!!

[@nasabackyard]

this is cool I will try tonight

[@AmyAstro]

Best of luck!

[@liak0s]

Loved the camera and software step by step explanation!! Thank you so much for the video!!

[@AmyAstro]

You're very welcome!

[@robertbennett6410]

I cant wait to learn from you!! Teach me!!! Thank you very much your videos are quite helpful!!!

[@AmyAstro]

Awe Thank you!!! Happy to help!

[@starman6092]

Hi Amy, I just found you and subscribed. Nice easy to understand tutorial. I will check out some of your other videos as well. Greetings from SC.

[@AmyAstro]

Welcome from your neighbor in GA. :)

[@tomwall8403]

Best video on this topic!

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you so much!

[@anthonybevis6939]

Hello Amy, Great video! I love the easy, simple tutorials you're doing, please keep them up! I was set to spend money on a Polemaster, but Dustin Haertel talked me into trying SharpCap, and once I did, I never looked back! Looking forward to more videos from you, and FYI, I'm a cat person! :)

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying them. My cats are a mess for sure, yet so much fun.

[@anthonybevis6939]

@@AmyAstro I enjoy trying to spot them occasionally in the edges of the frame ;)

[@JVRost]

You are a great clever and well done! I have been using that program for over 2 years to set the polar axis, a little advice to you. It is better to set the shutter speed no more than 2 seconds, otherwise the frames are updated very slowly and the adjustment process becomes long. It is better to raise the gain to the maximum, you can first create darks directly in the Sharp Cap. Another important point if you want to achieve unprecedented polarity accuracy. The optical axis of the telescope in the home position should be parallel to the optical axis of the pole finder, it is better to do this during the day. Otherwise, you are not polarizing the mount, you are polarizing the telescope, which is not the same thing. Good luck and greetings from Ukraine

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you for the compliment. I finally figured out the raising gain tip. lol I did not know about the optical axis tip. Thank you. I will give this a try.

[@kwitee]

I invented this method and I can tell you you are wrong. As long as the camera you use is solidly attached to the mount and you can see the celestial pole region, it will work ( that is why we rotate the scope and take a second image: the first image nails the CP, the second nails down the RA axis). Dave Rowe was my inspiration, I just added the plate solving step and automated. Robin Glover got in touch, I explained the process and he re-implemented it in SharpCap, improving it with faster plate solving and usability features.

[@AmyAstro]

@@kwitee Thank you for the added information.

[@kwitee]

The gory details github.com/ThemosTsikas/PhotoPolarAlign, and my starting point www.considine.net/aplanatic/align.htm. I believe Polemaster and ASIAir Pro use the same technique.

[@briangriffiths937]

Hi Amy, the whole procedure will be a lot quicker, if you use your guide scope and guide camera to polar align. No filters to worry about, and you will be taking frames at less than one second.

[@AmyAstro]

Thanks for the tips! I will definitely try it next time out.

[@AstroSoundscape]

Thanks Amy very well explained

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you!

[@jean-marcducretet6874]

I really appreciate your videos. Thank you very much for these interesting presentations! Jean-Marc (in France).

[@AmyAstro]

Glad you like them! It means a lot to me.

[@jonkjon]

I have both but have had issues with the Polemaster software off and on. Now, I use SharpCap with the Polemaster camera. I've had pretty good luck with that. I haven't tried using my main imaging camera for aligning with it yet. If I ever get clear skies again, I'll give it a try! Thanks for the videos...

[@AmyAstro]

Great tip! I had not thought of using the polemaster camera that way.

[@erikmardiste]

You guys are lucky in the north having a pole star, try getting a polar alignment in southern hemisphere very difficult.

[@AmyAstro]

Definitely. I have no idea how you all do alignment down there.

[@erikmardiste]

@@AmyAstro I use the ZWO asi air plus, have used sharp cap was ok. The plus is really excellent

[@AmyAstro]

@@erikmardiste I am glad you all have an automated way to do this.

[@tacomaastro7462]

I've found that if the "Left/Right" is showing more than 30 minutes you can manually re-position the tripod to reduce that error and simplify the process. Also, if you have a Polemaster camera... you can use it with Sharpcap to do your alignment.

[@TheWonkyAstronomer]

Great demonstration.

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you

[@Alucard400]

Excellent tutorial in how to use this. I am considering doing this instead of the polemaster. The only drawback for me is, it's harder to polar align a mount if i am only going to use a DSLR camera and I don't have a mounting point for a guidescope.

[@AmyAstro]

Yes that does add to complication. Post a photo of your mount on my facebook page in the community section. As how to mount a guide scope. Folks will answer and give you some suggestions. Best of luck.

[@sharpcap4229]

Nice walkthrough - thanks!

[@AmyAstro]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-sx8xj6ho6p]

Great from korea. It's really great video thanks

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you very much!

[@cosmoscarl4332]

There is a zoom function for when you get close but I'm not sure how to do it. You can zoom in on the cross hairs, the funny little things that look like satellites when you're almost perfectly aligned.

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you, I will check it out.

[@kevinmcdermott1236]

Found this recently. Really like it so may see how it compares to drift align. At the end of the video you were showing your PHD graph and talking about camera scale. How is camera scale calculated? Thanks in advance.

[@AmyAstro]

Check out this post on my website. amyastro.com/ Best of luck

[@tangospace4579]

Thank you, I m not new, but have a celestron 800 cpc with wedge , (my first ), now bought a mount SIRIUS, I want try with pure blood EQ, But tonight finished frustrated. Can;t see nothing in the polar scope inside the mount. You make me happy again. This work with all cameras ?? CCD AND SRL ?? Thank you for the video. Another suscriber in California attached to your channel.

[@AmyAstro]

I had the very same problem! Sharpcap works with a CCD astro camera. I have not tried a DSRL, but would be curious to know if you try it.

[@tangospace4579]

@@AmyAstro I got the pro, trying , but don't see nothing, only recognize my orion G 3 but no the Canon R . Thank you Amy, If I discover something new let you know.

[@tangospace4579]

@@AmyAstro Ok Amy, I got in shaprCap forums the answer, We need to download the CanonSDK ASCOM.DSLR and ASCOM cameras will work in progam, but...you need to close first the controler for your canon. I will try this night.

[@bradfrankshaw]

Ooo I just got a colour AltairAstro imaging camera last week for planetary/Moon plus guiding when using the DSLR for DSOs. I had heard you can use SCP for polar align! I hate using the polar scope can't wait to watch this!!

[@AmyAstro]

It is so easy!

[@bradfrankshaw]

@@AmyAstro Oh my gosh it is!! I have hurt my neck and back and knees so much crouched down looking through the polar scope for a star I can barely see... this was sooo easy! Does this put Polaris into the cross hairs circle or the little Polaris circle on the edge, if you know what I mean? And I love your accent! I love the way you explain things slowly and carefully! Yay! Oh and I have a 9x50 finder coming too for the guiding - need to learn about PHD.

[@bradfrankshaw]

@@AmyAstro just spent 2.5hrs outside trying to get this to work. :( perfectly clear sky. Polaris bright as day. SC just didnt want to work.

[@AmyAstro]

@@bradfrankshaw Noooo what happened?

[@darkmoonastrophotography]

Great tutorial Amy! Does the image scale relate to your guide camera or main imaging camera? I usually use Sharpcap through the guide camera, is there any benefit to using the main imaging camera?

[@AmyAstro]

I use the main imaging camera. Mostly due to folks telling me to. I was reading the SharpCap website for tips and they even suggest using a guide scope ~200mm with a guide camera. I will have to try that way and compare. I'm curious now.

[@paulowen1813]

Hi Amy, I have used polemaster for quite awhile and thought my mount was not giving me good guiding. Then I tried sharp cap and what a difference in my guiding now...I've been using sharp cap ever since..:)

[@AmyAstro]

Thanks for sharing! I was very surprised. I spent a long time in the monitoring mode making sure the box and circle stayed lined up. Sometimes it just did not matter.

[@AnakChan]

Amy (or anyone else familiar with SharpCap), the difference between the paid and free version is that the paid version includes "Guided Adjustment". What does that really mean? Does that mean the free version doesn't have the step-by-step wizard? Does the free version provide guidance on "Move Polar Axis" Up/Down/Left/Right, or is that only in the paid version? Does the free version only show the polar alignment error values but not tell you which direction to move the alt/az? TIA.

[@AmyAstro]

All good questions that I do not know the answer for. I hope someone else chimes in. I only use sharpcap for the polar alignment feature. That required the pro version.

[@traveler7249]

Soo. Where was the scope pointed in the beginning? Was it roughly polar aligned?+

[@AmyAstro]

The scope and mount were roughly aligned to polaris. This was done with a compass, not spot on.

[@traveler7249]

@@AmyAstro Does this have to be performed with visibility of Polaris etc.? Can this be performed without the sightline of Polaris? --- I am surrounded by tall trees/houses to the North. I would like to view other objects, without dragging everything to some parking lot/field. thank you for the video and for answering my questions.

[@AmyAstro]

@@traveler7249 SharpCap does platesolve, but I am pretty sure you need to be able to view some stars around polaris, not necessarily polaris. Another option would be using PHD2 and drift align. There are a few videos on how to do this on youtube. Sadly I have not tried it yet. Also the iOptron iPolar does not need to see polaris. Just means more money.

[@AmyAstro]

@@traveler7249 Check this out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnSylWRtZbiambs

[@rickcrume739]

can you turn the volume up

[@charlesgalineau1375]

I still use the free version 2.9 which does exactly that ;)

[@AmyAstro]

I was a bit late to that part. lol I had to pay.

[@Mistr_A]

Hi Amy how do you calculate your image scale?

[@AmyAstro]

I will make a blog post on that for you this week.

[@Mistr_A]

@@AmyAstro Thank you :)

[@JieLin123]

That's really useful! Am I need to install ASTAP or something additionally to platesolves it?

[@AmyAstro]

No need SharpCap includes the maps you need.

[@MacEliot]

Yes! The panda bear!

[@AmyAstro]

lol, do you know how hard it is to find a white background to put a clear and black sticker on it. The panda was made for this spot.

[@johnthompson6148]

Excellent video. I noticed that you are using a zwo camera and I am curious as to what your setting are for DSO's. I have a ASI178MC and not yet tried DSO's. I have the planets figure out. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@AmyAstro]

I typically shoot 4 minute exposures with a gain of 139, offset 21.

[@johnthompson6148]

@@AmyAstro thanks. I'll give that a try when weather and works cooperates.

[@redabdab]

Thanks for this great video Amy. I have SharpCap and I am looking forward to trying this method instead of breaking my neck looking up the polarscope at 52 degrees latitude! One question, could you not have increased your gain to get sub-second exposure times? That would make the whole process quicker wouldn't it?

[@AmyAstro]

Absolutely. I was still learning sharpcap at that time. Thanks for the comment. Clear skies

[@aerozg]

Hmmm, i don't have a dedicated astro camera, need to try and do this using my DSLR. I have the Star Adventurer, and a Nikon D750 with a Tamron 150-600G2 lens. Thankfully, SharpCap Pro is only £10/year. Lets see how this goes.

[@AmyAstro]

Best of luck, let me know how it turns out.

[@lukesanders8258]

Hi Amy, whats your rationale for using your main camera for alignment rather than your guide? I’ve always used my guide, but thats mainly because my main camera used to be a Canon EOS. I now have the ASI1600GT so would you advise I use that instead?

[@AmyAstro]

Both cameras work well with this process. I like the main camera since the field of view is tighter and I feel like I can get alignment closer. I have done it with both, and both gave me a good alignment.

[@ManosZafirakis.ShapeMixStudio]

Thanks for the video Amy. In the phd guiding you told that the total must be below the camera scale in order to have sharp images. Could you tell me please which is this camera scale? For example my guiding camera is the ZWO asi120mm..Thanks

[@AmyAstro]

I use this as a general rule of thumb. Check out this website, Field of View, Imaging Mode tab. Input your scope and camera, and add to view. The Resolution in inches per pixel is the number I am referring to as scale. astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/

[@ManosZafirakis.ShapeMixStudio]

@@AmyAstro Aaaa ok , thank you very much :)

[@captaincook6666]

Hi Amy I have azgti in eq mode. Considering adding guide camera or swapping dslr for dedicated. Question can you do this with either main camera or guide?

[@AmyAstro]

Can polar align with image camera or guide camera. I have not tried this with a DSLR though. I don't think they are sensitive enough for this processes. Would be curious if anyone else out there has tried polar alignment with a DSLR.

[@MrGuitar50]

Great video! I just purchased a Celestron 9.25" SCT with HyperStar and a ZWO 294 color CCD. Looking forward to doing some major astrophotography. Can you explain "PHD", the camera image scale, etc that you were referring to at the end? And where is that in SC? Thanks again. Richard in Detroit

[@AmyAstro]

Yes I can do that. Next clear night I get to set up.

[@nunopsilva]

Is it relevant how far the guiding(alignment) camera is far off the center of the mount? I normally put mine on top of the camera. Just to know if I'm doing it wrong

[@AmyAstro]

Good Question. My guide scope is close to my imaging scope meaning if I have a star centered in the imaging scope, it is somewhere in the frame of the guide scope. I do not believe they need to be aligned. We are adjusting the mount itself. Would be worth a try.

[@stevebbdotcom]

Amy, this was brilliant - I have followed a few tutorials on Sharpcap Pro but your instruction was a lot lot easier to follow even circumventing the circles / rotation and with the mount turned off . Here in the UK, we have had cloud for the last 4 days but I will give this a bash at the earliest opportunity. Amy, what scope where you using to do the alignment - I am wondering if my 80mm (400mm focal length) might not be "widefield" enough ? Thanks again :)

[@AmyAstro]

Glad it was helpful! I am using my main imaging camera/scope (714mm). You can also used the guide camera/scope. The guide scope will give you a larger field of view so may be easier. Clear skies here are difficult also.

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

Amy. I think I got it working with my Sony camera. As soon as i started the polar align wizard and went to step one it started taking pictures automatically without me telling it to is this what it normally does?

[@AmyAstro]

Yes, The camera just starts taking images. Drove me nuts at first. :)

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

@@AmyAstro awesome so its working. Good to know!

[@skatsikas]

Very helpful! Wondering if this is a better solution than using All Star Polar Alignment with my Celestron Handheld.

[@AmyAstro]

I would be curious to know. I have not tried the Celestron version. SharpCap does give me good alignment. I just have to be patient and give it time to settle between movements.

[@skatsikas]

@@AmyAstro I assume that if I have a guide camera and an imaging camera, I should use the imaging camera for polar aligning, or does it not matter?

[@AmyAstro]

@@skatsikas You can use either. If you feel your polar alignment is way off, you can use the guide scope/camera with the wider field of view. I bounce between the two and get the same results.

[@chitownxring1444]

Amy by chance did you happen to use the built in polar scope on your EQ6R to polar align then use Sharpcap and then look through the built in polar scope to see how accurate it is?

[@AmyAstro]

Funny and sad story. Day one learning how to set up the mount, the instructions said something about aligning the reticule. During that process the reticule fell out of the mount and landed on the ground. I never got it back in right. I ordered a polemaster the following day.

[@haroldmasterson3863]

Wonderful video, couple quick questions. What camera were you using, what telescope were you using and what was the field of view available to SHARPCAP. Also have you tried SHARPCAP PA with the Polemaster camera? Thank you in advance. Harold

[@AmyAstro]

Hi Harold! You can use any of your cameras. I have used the imaging camera with main telescope, or the guide camera with the guide scope, and the polemaster camera mounted to the mount. They all work. I did an experiment trying all three. There were very slight adjustments between them. I tend to start with the polemaster camera, then go to my main telescope to check it. The polemaster is always in focus and super sensitive which is why I start there. I would not go buy a polemaster just to do it this way. I just happened to have it first. Best of luck!

[@haroldmasterson3863]

Thanks for the info and keep your videos coming.

[@gianniformica8235]

Thank you. Im new to the hobby and this was perfect. You say that the software was using the main imaging camera to plate solve. It would be using the stars in the same field of view as Polaris for this right? I mean before you start this, you have set the latitude for your location and pointed the scope North? Are star alighnments required after this? Would be GREAT to see anything you have on EQ Mod. Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this. Subscribed.

[@AmyAstro]

Yes, you need to aim the mount close to north and polaris. Polaris does not need to be in the imaging camera. Sharp cap will plate solve and run a calculation to get you aligned. It is really a clever program. Best of luck.

[@akacagen]

Does it matter if you roate the scope to the right first instead the left?

[@AmyAstro]

Good question. I honestly have not tried. If I went right I would only see a tree. :) All I can say is try and let us know if it works.

[@craiglowery4427]

Amy: What do you use to achieve star alignment. I'm guessing you plate solve with SGP

[@AmyAstro]

I use platesolve 2 in sequence generator pro.

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

Hi, I am new to polar alignment. Just bought the ioptron Skyguider Pro and trying to polar align that in the Southern hemisphere. Does this application have a phone call I can use to help me algn the tracker?

[@AmyAstro]

I'm not sure what you mean by phone call. Unfortunately I do not know how to align down there. Sounds like you may have to google it some.

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

Lol sorry I meant to say phone app. I guess I could try call Santa in the north pole but I'm in the southern hemisphere

[@johnparker9524]

Now that spring is here and my neighbors tree has leaves, I can not longer see Polaris. I have markings on my driveway for where to put the mount. Can you slew your scope for example to the south and then use SharpCap pro to polar align?

[@AmyAstro]

I really do not know. I say give it a try and see what happens. Next option would be to try drift alignment with PHD2. There are some great videos on that topic out there.

[@kwitee]

If you can’t image the celestial pole, you are better off using a polarscope and drift alignment.

[@paulshepperd2101]

Doesn't this depend hugely on cone error being accurate?

[@AmyAstro]

I am not familiar with cone error. Can you explain?

[@AstroQuest1]

Nice Amy. I actually used (and did a Polar Alignment with it the other night) Sharpcap and was very happy with it. When I read the directions it seemed to indicate you use the guidescope and camera, but after watching your video it looks like you can use the main scope. This would be a lot easier. Is that the case? - Thanks Kurt

[@AmyAstro]

Hard to say, I need to try it with the guide scope. May be easier seeing where you are going with the larger field of view the guide scope has. Curious now to try.

[@AstroQuest1]

@@AmyAstro Yes I am going to try it with my main scope as it has better detection of stars.

[@AstroQuest1]

@@AmyAstro Hi just and FYI, it definitely worked a lot better with my main scope.

[@AmyAstro]

AstroQuest1 excellent to know. Thank you!

[@HAH_512]

Thank you for the video. I saw that you used the main imaging camera and not the guide camera for alignment. Is that what we typically should do? I am considering purchasing the pro version of Sharpcap

[@AmyAstro]

You can use either! Both will give you great results. The guide scope is typically a wider FOV so if you are far off of Polaris, you will see it sooner on camera. Using the imaging scope you may be scrolling for a while before you see it in frame. It is user choice. Best of luck.

[@PatrickGuerrisi]

Can this work with ioptron skyguider pro?

[@AmyAstro]

I have not tried, but I bet it would work if your camera is connected to a pc.

[@andyweeks2216]

The cats are so big now!!!

[@AmyAstro]

It is crazy how fast they grew!

[@andyweeks2216]

@@AmyAstro BTW, I'll try Sharpcap next time out. I've been using the Polemaster for a while now and need the comparison. Sounds like it might be my future alignment tool.

[@AmyAstro]

@@andyweeks2216 Best of luck.

[@dankahraman354]

Hi Amy: If I am too far west or east in azimuth will Sharpcap fail to solve? I have my scopes in my observatories and first light was last night and Sharpcap failed to polar align with two of my mounts...so I am thinking that I am too far east or west in azimuth for plate solve in Sharpcap to solve.

[@AmyAstro]

I don't really have a good answer for this. I know you need to have your scope pointing north as close as possible. Then when you rotate your scope west, it should plate solve. Was the camera capturing stars? It does need to be in focus, and preferably no trees in the way.

[@dankahraman354]

@@AmyAstro Hi Amy: I solved the problem. The mount was way off so I had to resort to using the reticle scope and the Kochab Clock app. to position Polaris in the right quadrant. Thereafter Sharpcap solved the correction very quickly. Moral of the lesson is: 1) Use your reticle scope and 2) an app that locates Polaris in the correct quadrant for your time, location and date 3) put mount in the Home position 4) Start Sharpcap. Your settings in Sharpcap should be: a) Gain about 75% of maximum b) Exposure 2-4 seconds c) Noise Reduction 1.5 d) Star size: min.3, max. 12 e) Digital Gain 2x f) Black Level 44 Make stars as small as possible with focusing

[@AmyAstro]

@@dankahraman354 Thank you for sharing your solution!!! So happy you are up and running.

[@dankahraman354]

@@AmyAstro I don't think Sharpcap will platesolve if your location errors are too great...I don't know what those limits are...my guess? Anything outside of the FOV of the guide-scope+guide camera combination.

[@deeber35]

Can u use Sharp Cap to PA with just a DSLR and tracker and no view of Polaris?

[@AmyAstro]

Sadly no

[@deeber35]

@@AmyAstro What would I need to be able to use SharpCap? I think my Nikon camera is supported. Thanks.

[@daveshad74]

What do you mean by camera image scale?

[@AmyAstro]

Check out astronomy.tools and enter your telescope and camera info in to find out your image scale. I have found that if I can keep my total RMS error in PHD2 below this number then my images remain sharp with no trails. It is the resolution number when it calculates inches per pixel. astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/

[@figzastro-photography]

Hey hope all is well. Can I use my Canon 6D Mll with Sharp Cap?

[@AmyAstro]

Many folks use Canon DSLR with astro so there is a strong chance it will work. I have not tried.

[@farcry79]

Thanks for the video very helpful, sorry if this sound silly but are you using a guide scope when polar aligning?

[@AmyAstro]

You can use either. Both work well.

[@One1Raptor]

I can't get Sharpcap to "solve the frame" in the first step? I just my finderscope ( 9x50) with a ZWO 290MC camera. Are you adjusting the gain, or just exp. ?

[@AmyAstro]

Typically I increase the exposure, with the gain at about 75% of the slider. The scope does need to be in focus.

[@One1Raptor]

@@AmyAstro Thank you. In the video i see you have gain set to auto🤔🤔

[@amandacortese2776]

Do you have this connected to the camera on your guide scope? Im still very new and having issues with polar aligning through the mount itself, I'm getting a guide scope for Christmas and then buying a camera for that very soon. I use a DSLR right now on my Refractor and assuming I can't use this program with that camera.

[@AmyAstro]

I have not tried a DSLR with sharpcap, but don't think it would be very easy. For doing polar alignment you can use either your guide scope or your main imaging scope. They both will work well.

[@kellyrayx119]

Thank you. Do you think I could use my Orion Starshoot G3 camera ?

[@AmyAstro]

I'm honestly not familiar with that camera.

[@catpool]

Or you use CCDCiel (indi / ascom) or EKOS (indi) totally free.

[@AmyAstro]

I will have to look into those. Thank you!

[@Big.Ron1]

Amy, what is image scale? Thank you!

[@wanderingquestions7501]

The AsiAir is easier then that. I don’t have to manually rotate the OTA at all. AsiAir controls all that. I commonly get alignments less then 30” but often quit then.

[@AmyAstro]

That is a neat little package from ASIAir.

[@paulsmith5608]

Hi Amy, when you say choose a camera do you on Sharpcap do you mean the guide camera ?

[@AmyAstro]

You can use either camera, your choice. I typically use my image camera since I feel the added reach gets me closer to alignment. I've done both though with great results.

[@tubedude54]

Hello. I'm recently retired and have been trying to revive my old astronomy hobby that I never had the amount of time to do the things I wanted. I have a NX11 (C11 fork mount) from 2003 and I have a wedge for it. How would I polar align this rig? Do I have to have the tube parallel to the polar axis or just 'close' so that Sharpcap 'sees' all the stars necessary when you rotate the polar axis? I'd been searching for a video telling how to use PoleMaster with a wedge and your video popped up in the suggestions and since I have SharpCap I figured I'd watch. Not sure if my wedge has adjustment capabilities to turn it in azimuth... going to go check after I post this.

[@AmyAstro]

I really don't know how to polar align this type of set up. I recently acquired a C11 (2002) Fork mount set up. The first thing I did was remove the C11 from the mount. I added a long losmandy D Rail and I attached it to my skywatcher EQ6R mount. I know I cheated. I could not wrap my head around how to do a PA either. Best of luck. Happy to hear you are back in the hobby.

[@tubedude54]

@@AmyAstro Ty for the quick response Amy! Yes, you cheated! lol I looked at my wedge and it does have the ability to adjust it in alt-azithmuth so I think it will be just as easy as doing it the way you do on a german equatorial mount! I'm assuming your C11 did not have a wedge? As far as being 'back' in the hobby... not sure that is good or bad! lol Another person once described the hobby like a black hole... it sucks all your money and time away from you!! LOL

[@AmyAstro]

@@tubedude54 Astro is like owning a boat (Bring Out Another Thousand) lol I love it thought. When I picked up my C11 it did not have a wedge, so the cheaper route was buying a rail and using my other mount.

[@tubedude54]

@@AmyAstro Hi Amy, Do you still have those forks with the motors, electronics etc?? Would you be willing to part with them?? I can shoot you an email if you're interested. Got this crazy idea in my head... guess that's part of being retired! lol

[@AmyAstro]

@@tubedude54 Are you asking about the C11 I have? I actually traded the forks to a friend and he turned it into a satellite dish for a Seti project.

[@TheHelicapt]

Did you use your guide scope and guide scope camera or main scope camera?

[@AmyAstro]

You can use either. They both work great. Just make sure whichever you use the scope is in focus first.

[@edwinsanchez1167]

Hi Amy! I just found your channel and became your subscriber! I just started using sharcap for PA, most of of the time I can get it to excellent but what I have noticed is that when I put the scope back to home/parked position I see that the PA becomes fair! I think that should be fine since I see you just turned off sharcap before returning scope to home position. Is that a fair statement? Thank you and looking forward to your teaching videos!

[@AmyAstro]

Awesome! Thank you! Yes, I turn it off before returning to home. You are complete. :) If you get excellent you should get excellent results. lol

[@mode1charlie170]

Hi Amy! Another interesting tutorial. Just a quick question about the end of the video. Are you saying PHD total error is supposed to be below image scale of the main camera or guiding camera. Also the total error is measured in arc seconds and the image scale is arc seconds per pixel. Is it alright to compare these two numbers....thanks in advance!

[@AmyAstro]

That is an excellent point. PHD is using the guide camera, not the image camera. This is something that I observed. If I crawl much above the scale number consistently though the image exposure I typically get trailing.

[@mode1charlie170]

Amy Astro Ok thanks its a nice rule of thumb! I always wondered what the limits of my guiding setup was with my imaging train. I have a number (error) that works but I don't know how it would be calculated.....

[@michaelatkinson3397]

No need to even worry about error really. Do you have round stars?....if so then good enough 👍

[@AmyAstro]

@@mode1charlie170 I will write a blog on it this week. Stay tuned.

[@mode1charlie170]

Amy Astro Thanks Amy....I was hoping you would say that!